Peter King (R-NY): "I will break down the wall of political correctness on Islamic radicalization"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Newsday > Opinion > OpEd

King: What's radicalizing Muslim Americans?

Originally published: December 19, 2010 1:31 PM
By PETER KING

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Photo credit: Howard Schnapp | U.S. Rep. Peter King says if the GOP takes back power in the house, he will be in position to help Long Island businesses get Homeland Security money. (April 2010)

Peter King (R-Seaford) represents New York's 3rd Congressional District.

To some in the strata of political correctness, I'm a pretty bad guy. To be blunt, this crowd sees me as an anti-Muslim bigot. A spokesman for the Committee on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) denounced me last year for making "bigoted remarks . . . about Muslims and mosques (that) have no place in national security discussions."

In a 2006 CNN report about comments I'd made about Muslim leaders on Long Island, Paula Zahn said my charges were "causing a lot of outrage" before proceeding to asking me "Are you a Muslim hater?"

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The great majority of Muslims in our country are hardworking, dedicated Americans. Yet a Pew Poll showed that 15 percent of Muslim Americans between 18 and 29 say suicide bombing is justified. I also know of imams instructing members of their mosques not to cooperate with law enforcement officials investigating the recruiting of young men in their mosques as suicide bombers. We need to find the reasons for this alienation.

There's a disconnect between outstanding Muslims who contribute so much to the future of our country and those leaders who - for whatever reason - acquiesce in terror or ignore the threat. It is this disconnect that threatens the security of us all.

As chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, I will do all I can to break down the wall of political correctness and drive the public debate on Islamic radicalization. These hearings will be a step in that direction. It's what democracy is all about.

http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/king-what-s-radicalizing-muslim-americans-1.2550488